While driving through Ireland's Connemara region at the end of a dreary rainy day, two Connemara ponies unexpectedly ran alongside our car and began to play. I slammed on the brakes and started shooting through the passenger window while the ponies put on a show as if they knew we were the only people around for miles. Perfect ending to an amazing family vacation.

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In August 2013, during a family vacation aboard a cruise, our ship came across a makeshift boat of Haitians, stranded at sea. They were attempting to reach the United States, but with a hurricane approaching, their lives were at a major risk. The crew of our ship explained to the Haitians their situation since they were unaware of the weather to come, and offered to rescue them. After the Haitians accepted the offer, they boarded the cruise into safety and were turned over to authorities at our next port.

During a zodiac cruise in Neko Harbour, Antarctica we approach a leopard seal resting on an ice floe. As we came closer his initial indifference to our presence was replaced by a warning growl. He was reminding us that we were the visitors and this was his home - a home where he plays by his own rules.